Vargverk - Carpentry & Craftsmanship

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Vargverk - Carpentry & Craftsmanship From Highlands to Forests. Craftsmanship that endures. Carpentry, building, renovations, repairs, handy man services.

Sometimes you just have to go and ask the masters! What a wonderful day I had with おたにさん and company. A beautiful worksh...
14/10/2026

Sometimes you just have to go and ask the masters! What a wonderful day I had with おたにさん and company. A beautiful workshop, a paradise, and an interesting work of art. I have loads to learn. かいぜん。
おたにさん、ほんとにありがとうございます。😍🇯🇵⛩️🔨🪚

Japanese timber, building, joints p**n 2nd edition.I spent 2.5 hours walking from my accommodation to Zenkoji temple in ...
30/09/2026

Japanese timber, building, joints p**n 2nd edition.
I spent 2.5 hours walking from my accommodation to Zenkoji temple in Nagano and captured other buildings that caught my eye. I really love this architecture and way of building. It makes the walks through towns so short and not exhausting, though, the heat on the other hand had another say on the matter.
I can't wait to get my hands on some timber and start playing!!

Japanese buildings and carpentry p**n!! I've been admiring so much the carpentry of the buildings I've seen so far. From...
27/09/2026

Japanese buildings and carpentry p**n!! I've been admiring so much the carpentry of the buildings I've seen so far. From two temples in Tochigi prefecture to the buildings in Ouchijuku in Fukushima. Such craftsmanship and beauty. I've observed and studied some joints and cannot wait to put my hands in action to attempt them and play with them. 😍🇯🇵⛩️

"しょくにん の じゅんれい：もくめ を たどって"A craftsman's pilgrimage: Following the grain. I have come to Japan with a simple purpose: to ...
20/09/2026

"しょくにん の じゅんれい：もくめ を たどって"
A craftsman's pilgrimage: Following the grain.
I have come to Japan with a simple purpose: to observe, appreciate and study Japanese carpentry — and to take in as much as I can along the way.
Over the coming weeks, I want to look closely at the details that make this craft so special: the joints, the timber, the preparation of wood, the tools, the techniques, the care and conservation of traditional buildings, and the knowledge passed from one craftsman to another.
I am not here to claim expertise in Japanese carpentry. I am here as a carpenter, with an open mind, to learn.
Along the journey, I will share small glimpses of what I discover — a joint, a piece of timber, a tool, a technique, a building, or simply a detail that catches my eye.
This is a journey of observation, learning and appreciation.

Kumiko lamp commission for a newly wed couple. I enjoyed designing and building this. The design on the panels is showin...
20/09/2026

Kumiko lamp commission for a newly wed couple. I enjoyed designing and building this. The design on the panels is showing how from both sides of the panel come to meet in the middle with ups and downs and then rise. Symbolises a successful partnership.

Oak kumiko lamp with pine panels.
20/09/2026

Oak kumiko lamp with pine panels.

I built this carport in Contin. From rain to fully sunny and hot days, annoying midges and some tool shopping trips, it ...
09/09/2026

I built this carport in Contin. From rain to fully sunny and hot days, annoying midges and some tool shopping trips, it was a successful job. I'm pleased with it so as the customer.

Now, another of my favourite tools. I really find it fascinating to use and the results are satisfactory. The kanna (鉋) ...
09/09/2026

Now, another of my favourite tools. I really find it fascinating to use and the results are satisfactory.

The kanna (鉋) is a traditional Japanese hand plane used for woodworking, dating back over a thousand years. Unlike Western planes, which are pushed, the kanna is pulled toward the user, allowing for greater control and precision. This tool evolved from Chinese influences during Japan’s early woodworking traditions but was refined by Japanese craftsmen to suit their unique architectural and artistic needs. By the Edo period (1603–1868), specialized kanna designs emerged, enabling the creation of ultra-thin shavings and mirror-like wood surfaces, a hallmark of Japanese joinery.

Even today, the kanna remains a prized and loved tool among Japanese woodworkers, from temple carpenters to fine furniture makers. Craftsmen spend years mastering its use, adjusting the iron blade (kanna-ba) and wooden body (dai) to achieve the perfect cut. Annual competitions even showcase the skill of producing the thinnest, most delicate wood shavings—sometimes as fine as 5 microns!
In a world of power tools, the kanna continues to embody the precision, patience, and artistry of traditional Japanese woodworking.

A commission for a kumiko lantern made with hand tools, using only pine wood and rice paper. Mirrored design.
08/09/2026

A commission for a kumiko lantern made with hand tools, using only pine wood and rice paper. Mirrored design.

I installed this bespoke built in wardrobe for a client that required a better and safe storage. Used hardwood plywood f...
08/09/2026

I installed this bespoke built in wardrobe for a client that required a better and safe storage. Used hardwood plywood for the hanging doors and shelves and dressed redwood for the rest. Met a problem regarding the level of the floor against the level of the ceiling, leaving a significant gap on one end of the wardrobe, so I built the bottom rails with a slope to let the doors slide freely and at the same time holding the doors without flapping, covering the gap. A good and fun project to work on.

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